Chen Youliang

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Chen Youliang
陳友諒
Emperor of Chen Han
Reign1360–1363
SuccessorChen Li
Born1320
Huangpeng, Yusha County, Mianyang Prefecture, now Honghu, Hubei
Died3 October 1363 (aged 42–43)
Lake Poyang, Jiangxi
Burial
Tomb of Chen Youliang
Names
Chen Youliang
(陳友諒)
Era name and dates
Dayi (大義): 1360–1363
DynastyChen Han
FatherChen Pucai
MotherLady Wu
In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.
Chen Youliang
Traditional Chinese陳友諒
Simplified Chinese陈友谅
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Yǒuliàng
Wade–GilesCh'en Yu-liang

Chen Youliang (陳友諒; 1320 – 3 October 1363[1]) was the founder and first emperor of the dynastic state of Chen Han in Chinese history. He was one of the military leaders and heroes of the peasant rebellions at the end of the Yuan dynasty.

Biography

[edit]

Chen was born to a fishing family in the village of Huangpengshan (黄蓬山),[a] present-day Honghu, in Yusha County (玉沙縣),[18] part of Mianyang Prefecture (沔陽). During the Song Dynasty, Yusha was renowned as the "land of fish and rice", and was visited by poets Lu You and Fan Chengda, who both praised its bounty of fish and its cattle. Some say he was born with the surname Chen (陳), while others say he was born with surname Xie (謝).[19]

In his childhood he grew up poor in his family of relatively unsuccessful fishermen. Chen once served as a district official before becoming a general under Ni Wenjun during the Red Turban Rebellion.[20] Ni Wenjun planned to assassinate Xu Shouhui, the Red Turban rebels' leader, but Chen Youliang killed Ni Wenjun before Ni could kill Xu.[20] Thereupon Chen Youliang went on to capture Anqing and then proceeded to conquer vast parts of Fujian and Jiangxi.[21] After discord was sowed between Chen and his general Zhao Pusheng (趙普勝) by a former retainer of Zhao, bribed and sent to Chen by Zhu Yuanzhang, and with rumors that Zhao wanted to deflect to Wu circulating, Chen decided to do away with his general.[22][23] By the end of the same year proclaimed himself "King of Han".[21] In the Spring of 1360 Chen declared himself emperor.[21][24] His era name, as well as his empire's name, was Da Han (literally "Great Han"). Chen Youliang appointed Zou Pusheng (邹普胜) as Grand Preceptor and Zhang Bixian (張必先) as prime minister (丞相).[25]

From 1359 to 1363 Chen's fleet was the strongest on the upper Yangtze River. His power was at least as great as that of another rebel state, Wu, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming dynasty.

Rebels and warlords at the end of Yuan dynasty, including the territory controlled by Chen Youliang in early 1363

Since 1360 the Han were involved in a long war against Wu, which would be renamed "Ming" in 1368. The war culminated in the decisive Battle of Lake Poyang where the Wu fleet narrowly defeated the larger fleet of Han after three days of fighting.[26]

The Wu fleet then settled into a blockade. A month later, Chen attempted to break out of the blockade. During the resulting ship battle Chen was killed by an arrow that struck his head.[27]

As his crown prince Chen Shan (陳善) had been captured, Chen Youliang was succeeded by his second son, Chen Li, who had managed to escape to Wuchang with Zhang Dingbian (张定边).[28][29] His son resisted a siege of Wuchang for two months in late 1363. He surrendered when Wu's army once again approached Wuchang in March 1364.[30] Many prefectural commanders surrendered to Wu without a fight, but in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi fighting continued until April 1365.[30] Chen Youliang's son, father and brothers were however granted high titles and incomes by the Ming after Chen Han's fall. After a conflict with members of Zhu Yuanzhang's entourage in 1372, however, the Ming sent Chen Li to Goryeo.[29]

Controversial relationship with Trần Ích Tắc

[edit]

The Vietnamese historical annals Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, compiled more than a century after Chen's death (1469–1479) claims that Chen sent a diplomatic delegate to Đại Việt to mobilise support from Đại Việt, claiming to be the son of Trần Ích Tắc (known in China as Chen Yiji, 陳益稷), a Trần dynasty prince and son of emperor Trần Thái Tông, 66 years older than Chen, who did settle in the Yuan dynasty.[31][32] Chinese history annals did not record any such relationship, including the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu, revised for the first time in 1399 by Dong Lun (董倫) and published under the supervision of Yao Guangxiao, both contemporaries of Chen. The Taizu Shilu also specifies that his family had been fishermen for generations, and even reports an exchange between Chen and his father, in which the latter reminds his son that he is "just a fisherman" and advises him to "go back to his former occupation".[33][b] Chen's fellow Mianyang native, scholar Tong Chengxu (童承敍), adds in his Ping Han Lu (平漢錄) that Chen Youliang's ancestors originally had the family name as "Xiè", with his grandfather, Qianyi, later marrying into a certain Chen family and adopting their family name. This passage was also repeated by Qian Qianyi in his Guochu Qunxiong Shilue (國初群雄事略). The reason why Chen Youliang pretended to be a Vietnamese royal family was probably to earn support from Đại Việt.[34]

The Trần dynasty, however, did not to respond to Chen's request. Trần Ích Tắc was considered a traitor and was legally removed from the Trần royal family. It would in fact have been difficult for Đại Việt to ally with a traitor's descendant. Đại Việt also had no reason to intervene into the affairs of her northern neighbor.[34]

Family

[edit]
  • Grand-ancestors: Chen Qianyi (陳千一)
  • Father: Chen Pucai (陳普才) would be promoted to the tile Marquis of Cheng'en (承恩侯) by Zhu Yuanzhang after the downfall of Han
  • Mother: surnamed Wu (吴氏)[citation needed]
  • Brothers:
    • Chen Youfu (陳友富) would be promoted to the title Marquis of Guiren (歸仁伯) by Zhu Yuanzhang
    • Chen Youzhi (陳友直) would be promoted to the title Marquis of Huaien (懷恩伯) by Zhu Yuanzhang
    • Chen Youren (陳友仁), KIA at the Battle of Poyang Lake
    • Chen Yougui (陳友貴), KIA at the Battle of Poyang Lake
  • Spouses: Chen Youliang had several concubines respectively surnamed Yang (楊), Lou (婁), Tao (陶) and Du (闍). Consort Du was captured along with Chen Shan. Concubines Yang and Lou predeceased Chen Youliang[citation needed]
  • Children:
  • Grandchildren

Legacy

[edit]

Because of his rebellion against the Yuan Dynasty and establishment of the Chen Han Dynasty, Chen Youliang is remembered as a revolutionary, even hero, who helped resist Yuan rule and pave the way for the succeeding Ming dynasty. Historian Wu Han, for instance, described him as a "a hero who opposed the rule of the Mongolian and Han landlord classes".[c]

Tomb Memorial

[edit]
Tomb of Chen Youliang in Wuchang, Wuhan

After Chen's death at the Battle of Poyang Lake, he was buried in the southern slope of Sheshan, near the Wuchang Bridge Head (武昌橋頭) of Yangtze River Bridge in present-day Wuhan City, Hubei Province (next to the Yellow Crane Tower, a famous scenic spot in Wuhan, Hubei Province).[41][42] Zhu Yuanzhang is said to have visited the tomb the following year to pay his respects, and inscribed the words "Human Retribution, Heaven's Will" on a stone tablet erected near the tomb.[42][41]

The tomb is circular and surrounded by a brick wall, with a path leading to the tomb of 16 steps. It was built against the mountain and it fratures an hexagonal pavilion. There is a tombstone inscribed with Chen's name in front of the tomb, and in front of the sixteen-step path leading to the tomb there is a tall granite archway with four pillars and three gates, inscribed with the words: "Heroic Figure of Jianghan" (Jiang Han Xian Ying, 江漢先英) on the front and "Heroic Spirit of the Three Chu Regions" (San Chu Xiongfeng, 三楚雄風) on the back. The tomb complex is surrounded by pines and cypresses.[43][42][41] There is also a memorial hall dedicated to Chen in Xiantao, Hubei.[44][45] In Miancheng there is a building which is said to have been Chen's temporary palace.[46] He is also said to have established a temporary palace in his native Huangpengshan,[47] This palace was called Yamen (衙门) by locals. Today only it's ruins remain.[13] In Huangpengshan he also built a grand stone paved road,[48][49] "Hua Street" (华街),[49] today known as the "Ming and Qing Dynasty Bluestone Ancient Street" (明清青石板古街).[13] Chen also built two other streets in Huangpeng, which formed a sizable market square, which are no longer extant. Hua Street, however, has been preserved to this day.[13] In Youlong Mountain (游龙山), Huangpeng, there is an ancient tomb said to be the tomb of Chen Qianyi, grandfather of Chen Youliang.[13]

Legends

[edit]

Yuan Mei's What the Master Would Not Discuss includes an article titled Destroying the Temple of Chen Youliang, which recounts the anecdote of Zhao Xili (赵锡礼), a county magistrate during the Qing Dynasty, who destroyed the Chen Youliang Temple in Jingzhou and converted it to worship Guan Yu. Zhao only knew it was an unknown prince's temple and considered it an illicit shrine, thus destroying it. He was unaware that the temple was dedicated to Chen Youliang until he inquired with Zhang Tianshi (张天师).[50][51]

Cultural portrayals

[edit]

Film and TV

[edit]
See also: List of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber characters

Novels

[edit]

Chen Youliang features as a character in the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Louis Cha.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ He is described in modern literature as a native of Honghu,[2][3][4][5][6] specifically from Longchuanji (龙船矶), Huangpengshan (黄蓬山), Wulin (乌林), also formerly within Yusha County,[7][8] or more generally as a native of Mianyang.[9][10][11] The The Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu reports he was from Yusha County, Mianyang, without specifying the exact town or village. Tong Chengxu in his Ping Han Lu (平漢錄) reports that his father, Pucai, was from Huangpeng,[12][13] while the Ming Dynasty Mianyang Prefecture Gazetteer reports that Chen Youliang was a fisherman from Huangpeng.[13][14] Qian Qianyi in his Guochu Qunxiong Shilue (國初群雄事略) reports that Pucai was the son of a fisherman from Huangpeng,[15] while the late Qing Dynasty New History of Yuan reports that Chen Youliang was from Huangpeng.[16][17]
  2. ^ When Youliang first rose to power, his father was greatly alarmed and said, "You are just a fisherman, yet you dare to dream of great things. I do not wish for you to do so. Why not continue your old profession?" Youliang replied, "A diviner once examined the burial site of my ancestors and said that I would become rich and noble. Now is the time." When he gained some power, he sent someone to fetch his father. His father said, "You did not heed my advice and started this whole affair. I'm afraid it won't continue." (友谅之初起也，其父甚恐曰：「汝一捕鱼儿，欲图大事，吾不愿也，何不守汝故业？」友谅答曰：「昔有术者观先世葬地，谓我后当富贵，今正其时。」及稍贵，遣人迎其父，父曰：「汝不听吾言而起事至此，吾惧不能勉。」), from The Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu
  3. ^
    • Zhu Yuanzhang: "Youliang is arrogant, while Shicheng is narrow-minded. The arrogant are prone to conflicts, while the narrow-minded lack far-sighted plans.[35][36]
    • Yang Jing: "In the past Chen and Zhang occupied the Wu and Chu regions, built boats to plug rivers, accumulated grain to cross mountains, built their armies and called themselves invincible. However, after the battle in Poyang, Youliang was killed, and Chen turned his army toward the east, while Zhang surrendered. This is not man's choice; it is in fact destiny."[37][38]
    • Historian Wu Han: "Although Chen Youliang failed, he was, after all, a hero who opposed the rule of the Mongolian and Han landlord classes in the Yuan dynasty. He played a role in history. At that time, people sympathized with him and missed him. His grave is still preserved under the newly built Yangzi River Bridge for visitors to mourn."[39][40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ For those cross-referencing the Mingshi, in the old Chinese calendar 至正二十三年 refers to the year 1363 CE, 七月二十日 refers to 8月29日 or 29 August, and 八月二十六日 refers to 10月3日 or 3 October.
  2. ^ 中国现代, 当代文学研究 [Studies of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature] (in Chinese). Renmin University Press. 1981. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  3. ^ 仁壽本二十五史 Volumes 827-830. 二十五史編刊館. 1955. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  4. ^ 姜士林 (1991). 中华人民共和国县级市建设与发展 (in Chinese). 9787504305510. p. 656. ISBN 9787504305510. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ 湖北文献 (in Chinese). 湖北文献社. 1987. p. 36. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  6. ^ Editorial Committee of "China's National Conditions Series - Economic and Social Survey of 100 Counties and Cities" (1994). 中国国情丛书 百县市经济社会调查. 洪湖卷 (in Chinese). Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. pp. 253–261. ISBN 9787500054023. Retrieved 19 November 2025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ 湖北統計年鉴 (in Chinese). 中国统计出版社. 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  8. ^ Xu (许), Shiyi (世一) (12 September 2010). "洪湖赋" (in Chinese). Guangming Daily. p. 7. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  9. ^ 吴晗 (2020). 朱元璋传 (in Chinese). 沈阳出版社. ISBN 9787571604134. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  10. ^ 中国古代八大开国皇帝就是会夺权 简体中文版 (in Chinese). 今古传奇. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  11. ^ 历史学家茶座. 山东人民出版社. 2009. p. 95. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  12. ^ Tong Chengxu. 平汉录_茂边纪事 (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d e f 李良锷. "陈友谅:洪湖岸边是家乡". www.news.cnchu.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. ^ 安频 (19 December 2021). "监利人陈友谅征战天下始末" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ^ Qian Qianyi. 国初群雄事略/卷04 (in Chinese). [Chen Youliang's] father, Pucai, was the son of a fisherman from Huangpeng
  16. ^ Song (宋), Yanshen (衍申) (1996). 二十六史精华: 元史. 新元史 [The Essence of the Twenty-Six Histories: History of Yuan Dynasty. New History of Yuan Dynasty] (in Chinese). 北方妇女儿童出版社. p. 346. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  17. ^ 宋濂 (1966). 元史 (in Chinese). 國防硏究院, 中華大典編印會合作. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  18. ^ 杨 (Yang), 发兴 (Faxing) (2013). 明太祖朱元璋 [Zhu Yuanzhang, the Founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty] (in Chinese). 青苹果数据中心. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  19. ^ 童承叙的《平漢錄》記載：「陳友諒，沔陽人，本姓謝，祖千一，贅於陳，遂從其姓。父普才，黃蓬漁子也。」陳友諒本姓謝，祖父時入贅陳家，改姓陳。此說被《明史》採納，流傳廣泛。
  20. ^ a b Rowe, William T. (2007). Crimson Rain Seven Centuries of Violence in a Chinese County. Harvard University Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780804754965. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Lin (林), Zhiman (之滿) (2011). 中華文明之旅. 第一卷 (in Chinese). 遼海出版社. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  22. ^ Taizu Shilu (太祖實錄), Volume 7
  23. ^ 陳梧桐 (2023). 洪武大帝朱元璋. 中華書局（香港）有限公司. p. 81. ISBN 9789888860586. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  24. ^ Feng (奉), Youxiang (友湘); Li (李), Houqiang (后强) (2020). 蜀王全传 [The Complete Biography of the King of Shu] (in Chinese). 四川人民出版社. p. 249. ISBN 9787220117312. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  25. ^ Liu (刘), Letu (乐土) (2001). 朱元璋大帝 Volume 1. 北京图书馆出版社. pp. 460–462. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  26. ^ Ce (策), Gongsun (公孫) (2017). 勝之道 十位名將與十場戰役印證孫子兵法致勝思維 (in Chinese). 商周出版. p. 215. ISBN 9789864771929. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  27. ^ Twitchett, Denis (1998). The Cambridge History of China Volume 7 The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part I. Cambridge University Press. p. 87.
  28. ^ Lin (林), Zhiman (之滿) (2011). 中國軍事百科, 軍事武器卷 (in Chinese). 辽海出版社. ISBN 9787545100693. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  29. ^ a b Goodrich, L. Carrington; Fang, Chaoying, eds. (1976). Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368–1644. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 187. ISBN 0-231-03801-1.
  30. ^ a b Dreyer, Edward L (1988). Military origins of Ming China. pp. 89–90.
  31. ^ 《大越史記全書》本紀卷之七：“甲午（紹豐）十四年元至正十四年春二月，北邊帥臣驛奏，元陳友諒起兵，遣使來乞和親友諒，陳益稷子。”、“辛丑（大治）四年元至正二十一年二月，明太祖攻江州。陳友諒退居武昌，使人來乞師，不許。”
  32. ^ Ngô Sĩ Liên 1993, p. 251
  33. ^ Chen (陳), Xuelin (學霖); Chan, Hok-Iam (2001). 明代人物與史料 [Ming Dynasty Figures and Historical Material] (in Chinese). 中文大學出版社. p. 48. ISBN 9789622019867. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  34. ^ a b Hậu duệ nhà Trần của Đại Việt trở thành Hoàng đế Trung Hoa? Văn Hiến Plus, 8 April 2019
  35. ^ “朕以友谅志骄、士诚器小，志骄则好生事，器小则无远图。”
  36. ^ 王, 雄; 薄, 音湖 (1993). 明代蒙古汉籍史料汇编 Volume 1. 內蒙古大学出版社. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  37. ^ 杨璟：“向者如陈、张之属，窃据吴、楚，造舟塞江河，积粮过山岳，强将劲兵，自谓无敌。然鄱阳一战，友谅授首，旋师东讨，张氏面缚。此非人力，实天命也。”
  38. ^ 二十四史: 明史 (in Chinese). 中華書局. 2000. p. 2455. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  39. ^ 历史学家吴晗：“陈友谅虽然失败了，但他毕竟是反对元朝蒙汉地主阶级统治的英雄人物，在历史上起过作用，当时人们对他是同情的、怀念的，他的坟墓，到今天还在新建的长江大桥下被保存着，供来往游人悼念。”
  40. ^ Wu (吴), Han (晗); Li (李), Hua (华); (Yang) 杨, Zhao (钊) (1988). 吴晗文集. 北京出版社. p. 373. ISBN 9787200004632. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  41. ^ a b c 崔林涛 (1998). 中国现代, 当代文学研究 (in Chinese). 人民日报出版社. p. 610. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  42. ^ a b c 赵社民 (2000). 中华名人墓葬 (in Chinese). 宗敎文化出版社. p. 175. ISBN 9787801232816. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  43. ^ 皮明庥 (1988). 武汉通览 (in Chinese). 武汉出版社. p. 495. ISBN 9787543000377. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  44. ^ 人民日报 (30 May 2014). "陈友谅纪念馆观史" (in Chinese (China)). 熊泽民. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017. 在湖北仙桃市沔街中段，新建了一个"陈友谅纪念馆"。不久前的一天，我来到这里，听讲解，看实物，历史的风云在眼前展开……　关于陈友谅的传说很多，比如他有三口神奇的行军锅，他常常骑白马出征，他降生时有"三奇"，他从小习武，臂力过人……在纪念馆里看到，陈友谅建都旧遗址处古柏参天，环境十分幽静，青石台阶伸向密林幽静处。
  45. ^ 2013年12月18日9时，当地政府在湖北省仙桃市（原湖北沔阳）沔街九十墩开设“陈友谅纪念馆”。这个纪念馆内有三层仿古式建筑，占地3891平方米，总建筑面积达到1615平方米。前两层设有920平方米的展厅，最后一层为办公休息区。
  46. ^ "沔城风景名胜区". www.xiantao.gov.cn. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  47. ^ 仙桃市地方志编纂委员会 (Xiantao City Local History Compilation Committee) (1989). 沔阳县志 [Mianyang County Annals] (in Chinese). 华中师范大学出版社. pp. 9, 631. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  48. ^ 武汉文史资料 (in Chinese). 中国人民政治协商会议湖北省委员会,文史 资料硏究委员会. 2002. p. 32. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  49. ^ a b Jiang (姜), Shilin (士林) (1991). 中华人民共和国县级市建设与发展 [Construction and Development of County-level Cities in the People's Republic of China] (in Chinese). 中国广播电视出版社. p. 656. ISBN 9787504305510. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  50. ^ 袁枚《子不語》卷十收錄一篇《毀陳友諒廟》，講清朝趙錫禮任縣令時，毁了荊州陳友諒廟改奉關帝君的佚事。趙只知道是不明的王爺廟，認為是淫祠而毀廟，但並不知該廟是奉祀陳友諒，直到向張天師詢問之後，方才得知。
  51. ^ 《子不語·卷十·毀陳友諒廟》，「赵公锡礼，浙之兰溪人，初选竹山令，调繁监利。下车之日，例应谒文庙及城隍神。吏启：“有某庙者，当拈香。”公往视：庙有神像三人，雁行坐，俱王者衣冠，状貌颇庄严。问：“何神？”竟无知者。公欲毁其庙，吏不可，曰：“神素号显赫，历任官参谒颇肃，毁之恐触神怒，祸且不测。”公归搜志、乘，祀典不载此神，乃择日朝吏民于庙，手铁锁系神颈曳之。神像瑰伟，非掊击不能去。公曳之，应手而倒，三像碎于庭中。新其屋宇，改奉关帝。久之，竟无他异。公心终不释，乃行文天师府查之。得报牒云：神係元末偽漢王陳友諒弟兄三人，兵敗，死鄱陽湖，部曲散去，為立廟荊州。建於元至正某年，毀於國朝雍正某年趙大夫之手，合享血食四百年。」

Sources

[edit]